Portfolio Print Size

I had been building my portfolio's from 11" rolls cut to 11x16". This allowed me to print full frame 6x6 (10x10"), 4x5 (10x12.5") and 6x9 (10x15"). I was able to do the better part of 2 portfolios when I lost access to the roll paper cutter.

I switched to 11x14 sheets and continued on. Only the 6x9 negs suffered from the switch.

Last week I won a brand spanking new Rollma 31" x/y automated paper dispenser and cutter. Whoo Hooo!!!!

The problem is, 11" rolls seem to no longer be available. I can buy 10 or 12" rolls in the papers I prefer.

These portfolio prints will be used for presentation to gallery's. I will/have been printing extras and selling those on ebay.

Portfolio boxes are available in: 10x12, 11x14, 11x16 and 12x 18. Paper is available in 10, 12 and 16" rolls (I have 3 rolls of 12" already).

Would you recommend I:

1) print 11 x16 and either slice off an inch of the 12" rolls and buy 16" rolls in the future

2) stick to 11x14 in case I have to buy by the sheet and trim the 12" rolls

3) go to 12X18 -- size is impressive

4) 10x12 size is overstated (and this will be far cheaper)

5) do something else

I would like to hear what you think. I need to cut this paper down and get printing.

I had been building my portfolio's from 11" rolls cut to 11x16". This allowed me to print full frame 6x6 (10x10"), 4x5 (10x12.5") and 6x9 (10x15"). I was able to do the better part of 2 portfolios when I lost access to the roll paper cutter.

I switched to 11x14 sheets and continued on. Only the 6x9 negs suffered from the switch.

Last week I won a brand spanking new Rollma 31" x/y automated paper dispenser and cutter. Whoo Hooo!!!!

The problem is, 11" rolls seem to no longer be available. I can buy 10 or 12" rolls in the papers I prefer.

These portfolio prints will be used for presentation to gallery's. I will/have been printing extras and selling those on ebay.

Portfolio boxes are available in: 10x12, 11x14, 11x16 and 12x 18. Paper is available in 10, 12 and 16" rolls (I have 3 rolls of 12" already).

Would you recommend I:

1) print 11 x16 and either slice off an inch of the 12" rolls and buy 16" rolls in the future

2) stick to 11x14 in case I have to buy by the sheet and trim the 12" rolls

3) go to 12X18 -- size is impressive

4) 10x12 size is overstated (and this will be far cheaper)

5) do something else

I would like to hear what you think. I need to cut this paper down and get printing.

mrcallow,
What paper fo you prefer and why did you chose 11" paper in the first place? The film formats you list would not seemto be pressing their quality limitations at the print sizes you have been using. Knowing that would certainly tempt one to press the "bigger" button. ...er well, probably not, as what I have most strongly reponded to among what I have seen of your work (the "social documents") I would enjoy holding in my hands and considering at "text" range.

I think the least vexing approach is contained in (1) above. It will get you back to work immediately with the least head scratching and probably with the lowest number of prints you have to remake. The possibilities otherwise are endless and there is nothing like endless possibilities to put the brakes on production. Is it important to you that a given group of prints is uniform? This alone would mitigate against changing courses now. I know, "symmetry is the refuge of a dull mind" but a common dimensionality would seem to both ease the box choice and the viewers effort in experiencing your presentation as cohesive grouping. The cynical fellow sitting on my shoulder is whispering that you are going to get picked up by several galleries and a)they will all ask you to reprint the work larger for exhibition and b) they will also expect you to print gallery books in size that will not allow you to recycle the prints you are making now. By the way... 31" XY cutter, uh, score!
Celac.